Urban Renewal: KMA clears unauthorised 'Bayakasua' structures to boost safety and sanitation

In a major move to restore order and improve public health, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has successfully cleared the unauthorised Bayakasua settlement located behind the COCOBOD building in the Garden City.

The enforcement exercise, which began on Friday, involved the removal of approximately 500 wooden structures. The site had become a growing concern for city authorities due to pressing sanitation challenges, safety risks, and widespread illegal utility connections.

Led by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (City Mayor), Richard Kwasi Ofori Boadi Agyemang, the exercise was a collaborative effort aimed at addressing long-standing community grievances.

Over the years, the settlement had been linked to various security concerns, including illicit activities and unauthorised trading.

To ensure the exercise went smoothly, the KMA partnered with the Ghana Police Service and the Armed Forces, the Metro Guards, the ECG and the Ghana Water Company Ltd.

The operation also helped protect the city's utility infrastructure, as technicians from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) retrieved about 100 illegally connected meters.

At the same time, Ghana Water Limited disconnected unauthorised water lines and repaired damaged pipelines to prevent water wastage.

KMA stated that its goal is to reclaim public lands and enforce planning regulations to ensure a cleaner, safer environment for all residents.

City authorities commended the peaceful nature of the operation. Despite the size of the settlement, the exercise was completed without any casualties, injuries, or resistance from the occupants.

The Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining these environmental and planning standards to foster a more organised and livable metropolis.